U R RIGHT

I just didn't want to make a negitave comment - sorry

 

Negative ground system on a 1960.

 

The majority of what I have heard about Pertronix has been postitive. A few weeks ago I bought my wife a 1965 Ford Falcon for our anniversary (and to keep me from having to spend the next year overhauling her 67 Bug) The car is a little 170ci inline six and while messing with it over the weekend I discoverd that it has a Pertronix unit installed in it. So far, so good.

I like you plan for the truck! Thats a good logical progression. There will be speed bumps and ruts along the way but never fear, we all go through them. This site is a great place to come and vent a little bit when you get stuck, someone is always willing to give you a swift kick in the backside to get you motivated again.

I thinks its great that you are going to do all your own work. I'm attacking mine the same way. I'm even going to try my hand at sewing up my own interior. I figure that the worst case scenario is that I'll have to redo it if I mess it up that badly, or maybe pay someone (I hope it doesn't come to that)

Bobby

 

Welcome to The FTE Family

(I'm not tryin to be a SA or anything, You'll learn about me, just the way I am.)
To carry some more from Randy.

Who origanally bought the truck and why? Did you ever ride in or work from a Truck that was bought back then when they were WORK trucks? Have you sat in your truck and tried to imagine what it was like back then when it was new while making engine sounds? Do you know why you bought the Truck? Where is the first place the Truck wants to take you?

After you think about those ?'s and any that that process raises, Fix any Safety Issues, get it running smoothly, drive it, then get back to me for the next list of ?'s.

(That Ol Truck has more personnality than 90% of the people you've met in your life, Let it shine for you.)

 

The Petronix systems are really a good deal for daily driver trucks. They however do not like low voltage. Make sure your charging system is up to snuff before installing the Petronix. Trust me. Been there, bought new battery, alternator, and second Petronix. With old trucks, there is always something that needs attention. At least with the Petronix, the ignition system doesn't rise to the top of the to do list on a monthly basis.

 

Good point! In the past, particularly on the 6v systems, the generator regulator would cause voltage spikes that would destroy the Pertronix instantly. From what I hear, they are much better, but any electronic system works much better on an alternator.

 

That is precisely the reason I went with an alternator. Consistent high voltage. Been running this Petronix for a couple of years with no problems. Highly reccomend the set up.

 

I have one in my 51. It's a daily driver and I have no complaints whatsoever. (of course bear in mind that I'm running a late 60's 289)

 

I've had very good luck with Blue Streak points and condenser on my 50 F-1. I also use them on several old tractors that have been converted to 12V like my truck with very good results. This will be the fourth year of running the same set on my truck and I haven't even had to adjust them yet and I'm not even using a ballast resistor.
It sounds like there's nothing wrong with Pertronix either.

 

Used Pertronix in my '56 Victoria 292. Great unit.

 

Somebody in some forum I browsed said they always carried a spare Pertronix, to avoid walking. So it would be wise to at least keep the old points in the glove box.

It is possible to adapt a 300 distributor into the 223, but there's some machining involved to change the gear if I remember correctly.

 

Here I go again responding to years-old threads:

Installed a pertronix in my '56 223 back in the summer and though it did seem to run smoother and faster, come the cold damp days of winter it actually starts worse than my old original points.

Also sprang for the dynamite or volcano or whatever the fancy coil is.

After the third week of having to boost the battery to get my truck to start I decided to pull out the pertronix and re-install my original points and condenser.

Figured I'd leave in the new coil (I know: you're all cringing) but noticed it ran very rough and so I pulled the new coil and put my old one back on. Then it was that I read the warning on the new coil's instructions about not using it with conventional points in the distributor.

As the engine only ran this way (hotter coil but original points) a few minutes I'm hoping I didn't do too much damage.

Now I'm sweating over the ignition ballast--which the new coil's instructions said to bipass. Had spliced around this for the new install and once again I ran the engine awhile this way with the old coil reinstalled before I realized I now also needed to reinstall the old ballast.

Again only a few minutes running without ballast so fingers crossed I ain't burned up my old coil.

Will keep you posted on my progress but I gotta say Albuq F1: you were so right about that crappy load-a-matic dizzy: installing the pertronix was like lipstick on a pig.

In hopes someone's still reading this thread,
m

 

I put one on an old straight 8 Buick engine and it seemed to be okay.
One less thing to worry about.

 

Well, going on over ten years with the Standard Blue Streak points and still haven't touched them.